AgustaWestland Signs Contracts for VIP Helos

Russia’s Exclases has ordered five AW139 medium-twin helicopters and a single AgustaWestland GrandNew in VIP transport configuration. This GrandNew on display at AgustaWestland’s EBACE booth is sporting a special James Bond 007 livery. (David McIntosh)

AgustaWestland (Booth 7070) has received orders from Russia and the British Isles for VIP-configured helicopters.

Exclases Russia inked a contract for five AW139 medium twins–in a mix of VIP and utility layouts. HeliVert, a Russian Helicopters and AgustaWestland joint venture located in Tomilino near Moscow, will produce the AW139s. The deal is a follow-on to a previous agreement, which calls for one AW139 to be delivered in June. Exclases also has ordered a GrandNew light twin in VIP transport configuration.

In Europe, AgustaWestland has sold its fourth AW139 for corporate transport in the UK and Ireland. The helicopter is to be delivered in 2014 to an undisclosed customer. The manufacturer claims to have sold nearly 40 AW139s across Europe for VIP, corporate and government transport roles.

AgustaWestland is exhibiting a GrandNew in a special James Bond 007-style livery at EBACE. Also on display is a full-scale mockup of the dedicated VIP interior developed by MAG for the in-flight-test AW169 light-intermediate twin and a scale model of an exclusive four-seat, VIPAW139 interior by Karl Lagerfeld.

In other news, China-based AW139 operator Sky Shuttle Helicopters announced that captain Meg Lam and first officer Kirsty Holtkamp became the company’s first-ever all-female helicopter crew to operate flights between Hong Kong and Macau.